ased Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 2619-9211 Aksaray Üniversitesi 10.38122/ased.1623524 European and Region Studies European Studies Avrupa ve Bölge Çalışmaları Avrupa Çalışmaları The European Union's Latest Approach to Soft Power: Digital Diplomacy Avrupa Birliği'nin Yumuşak Güce Yönelik Son Yaklaşımı: Dijital Diplomasi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0907-8771 Özdilek Elif UFUK ÜNİVERSİTESİ 06 30 2025 9 1 79 97 01 20 2025 05 21 2025 Copyright © 2017, Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 2017 Aksaray Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi

Digital transformation is both a goal of sustainable development and an important contribution to achieving additional goals within the framework of sustainable development. However, the digital transformation process has a dual effect on sustainable development, producing both beneficial and harmful results. One of the fundamental concepts in international relations is soft power. In the age of globalization, it serves as an important political tool to influence and control societies in various social and humanitarian aspects such as language, culture and aid. Digitalization, which plays an important role in the shaping and progress of globalization, is rapidly penetrating all areas of social life, from diplomacy to economy. In this context, digital diplomacy emerges as a way to transfer soft power to the digital sphere and requires the restructuring of power dynamics and balances in this area. The European Union has successfully positioned itself in the digitalization landscape by rapidly adapting to global changes and transformations. As a result, digital diplomacy is an area where the European Union actively organizes and develops strategies for its digital future. The term Digital Europe is widely referenced and digital diplomacy is effectively used in policy development among EU member states, neighboring countries and international organizations. This study aims to assess the claim that digital diplomacy serves as a component of soft power in the effort to establish digital supremacy on the global stage, focusing on the European Union as a case study. The assessment involves the analysis of official documents from the European Union using content analysis and existing literature. By combining aspects of power and diplomacy, this research aims to advance the ongoing discourse surrounding digitalization in the fields of international relations and political science from the perspective of the European Union.

Dijital dönüşüm hem sürdürülebilir kalkınmanın bir hedefi hem de sürdürülebilir kalkınma çerçevesinde ek hedeflere ulaşmada önemli bir katkıdır. Ancak dijital dönüşüm süreci sürdürülebilir kalkınma üzerinde hem yararlı hem de zararlı sonuçlar üreterek ikili bir etkiye sahiptir. Uluslararası ilişkilerdeki temel kavramlardan biri yumuşak güçtür. Küreselleşme çağında, dil, kültür ve yardım gibi çeşitli sosyal ve insani yönlerden toplumları etkilemek ve kontrol etmek için önemli bir politik araç olarak hizmet eder. Küreselleşmenin şekillenmesinde ve ilerlemesinde önemli bir rol oynayan dijitalleşme, diplomasiden ekonomiye kadar toplumsal yaşamın her alanına hızla nüfuz etmektedir. Bu bağlamda dijital diplomasi, yumuşak gücü dijital alana aktarmanın bir yolu olarak ortaya çıkmakta ve bu alandaki güç dinamiklerinin ve dengelerinin yeniden yapılandırılmasını gerektirmektedir. Avrupa Birliği, küresel değişim ve dönüşümlere hızla uyum sağlayarak dijitalleşme manzarasında kendini başarıyla konumlandırmıştır. Sonuç olarak dijital diplomasi, Avrupa Birliği'nin dijital geleceği için aktif olarak örgütlendiği ve stratejiler geliştirdiği bir alandır. Dijital Avrupa terimi yaygın olarak referans alınmakta ve dijital diplomasi, AB üye devletleri, komşu ülkeler ve uluslararası örgütler arasında politika geliştirmede etkili bir şekilde kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışma, dijital diplomasinin küresel sahnede dijital üstünlük kurma çabasında yumuşak gücün bir bileşeni olarak hizmet ettiği iddiasını, bir vaka çalışması olarak Avrupa Birliği'ne odaklanarak değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Değerlendirme, içerik analizi ve mevcut literatür kullanılarak Avrupa Birliği'nden resmi belgelerin analizini içerir. Güç ve diplomasi yönlerini birleştirerek, bu araştırma, uluslararası ilişkiler ve siyaset bilimi alanlarında dijitalleşmeyi çevreleyen devam eden söylemi Avrupa Birliği perspektifinden ilerletmeyi amaçlamaktadır.

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